In a photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong-un monitors a weapons test in North Korea, in February 2012.KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY/The New York Times News Service
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The big nuclear talk
Oh, great − two men without a moral scruple between them are going to sit down and talk about nuclear weapons (Trump, Kim Jong-un To Meet In Historic Talks − March 9).
I’m tempted to think that Kim Jong-un’s friend, China’s President Xi Jinping, might have had a hand in organizing this.
If, somehow, this makes it more likely that Donald Trump will get re-elected, the result will be the continuation of a weakened and divided United States, which seems more interested in antagonizing its erstwhile allies than in doing anything constructive on the global stage. That would enable China’s power and influence to continue to grow – as we are seeing even now.
Jenna Chaplin, Toronto
Rural anger, justice
Re With So Many Unanswered Questions, Why No Stanley Appeal? (March 9): Gary Mason’s opinion piece, which appears on the same page as this article, provides an insight into the answer to your headline’s question (Rural Anger Jumps the Fence to Alberta).
Our lack of funding for police resources deployed in rural areas has led to Canada being comfortable with leaving it to armed landowners to defend themselves and their property. Would we be comfortable if the same standard applied in urban Canada?
Prof. David Tanovich’s legal analysis of the Stanley trial presents concerns as to why the decision was not appealed.
The answer seems to be that this would not be in the interests of rural law enforcement as it is currently structured. Sadly, it appears that we only have ourselves to blame.
Chris Marriott, Chelsea, Que.
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It is hard to imagine what other outcome our judicial authorities could have expected when allowing an all-white jury to try this case, with so many racial undercurrents, and with the police investigation itself now under scrutiny.
What’s next?
Will we see all-male juries selected to try rape cases, in order that the accused might be tried by his peers?
And how do we change it, when there is no real appeal against the flawed system that allows such jury rigging through peremptory challenges?
It’s a sad day for all Canadians when our justice system functions like something out of an old Western movie.
Christine Reissmann, Ottawa
Mandatory retirement?
Re Ontario’s Professors Are Retiring Later, Study Finds (March 6): It should not be a surprise to anyone that “Ontario’s professors are retiring later.”
Too many older professors are in effect already semi-retired while enjoying an average salary of $185,000 coupled with generous benefits. For this they have to spend fewer than 10 hours a week in the classroom for six months of the year. Since they are tenured, there is little pressure for them to either publish or to perform research and, in reality, they cannot be fired.
The real issue is whether universities can survive without mandatory retirement.
Peter Bartram, Toronto
Trans women, too
Thanks to Denise Balkissoon for acknowledging the complex and changing nature of gender categories and representation - “the well worn argument that trans women can’t possibly understand the experiences of those who were born girls and grew into women” (This IWD, Celebrate Trans Women, Too − March 8).
From foreign-speaking, sounding (and likely looking) in Canada in the 1950s, to white male cisgender privilege today, I am aware that though we may draw lines of inclusion/dominance, they are all written on proverbial and provisional sand.
The “discomfort” that Ms. Balkissoon feels about trans women in the context of “women’s communities” (note the plural) should be a welcome sign that with progress, comes recognition of further challenges.
What will future generations ridicule as our obvious moral lacunae: self-indulgence amidst environmental denial, indifference to disease and starvation in the developing world, our treatment of animals in spite of increased understanding of their cognitive and social capabilities?
Chester Fedoruk, Toronto
Women at the top
Re OMERS Promotes New President, CIO In Future-Facing Shuffle (Report on Business, March 6): Governments keep talking about “pay transparency” and “gender pay gaps,” as if these represent monumental advances for women. Out of six recent senior executive and management position announcements at OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System) only one is a women.
Guess what her position is – senior vice-president “People and Culture.” And this represents her current position moving to the senior executive team.
Of course, this fits well with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent pronouncement that women are more likely to focus “on social impacts or impacts on community or longer-term impacts.”
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Mr. Trudeau keep pushing small steps like “pay transparency” and “gender pay gaps.” Until we see the qualified women who continue to toil at the management/senior management level being recognized by promotions to the senior executive ranks, women will still have a long road to equality. And women expect more.
After all, it is 2018.
L.E. Burrows, Kingston
Who’s watching EDC?
Re Questions Mount Over Bombardier’s Deals With Notorious Gupta Family (March 6): Hats off to The Globe and Mail for its reporting on Bombardier’s dealings in South Africa. Without it, Canadians may never have learned of allegations of corruption surrounding two South African contracts landed by the firm.
One of the deals was backed by our export credit agency, Export Development Canada, which has loaned out billions in support of Bombardier in recent years.
It’s time our government took a critical look at the criteria EDC uses to screen potential clients, and the steps it takes, if any, when a client is found to have engaged in wrongdoing.
The Export Development Act is up for review this year. Parliament should use the opportunity to examine necessary reforms to prevent EDC from supporting business associated with high risk of corruption, human-rights abuse or other misdeeds.
Karyn Keenan, Director, Above Ground, Ottawa
Nice starter ... in Toronto
Re Lawrence Park House Goes $422,000 Over Asking (Done Deals, March 9): I could only gasp in quiet horror when I read that a house in Toronto that sold for $1,416,000 was described by the agent as “a great starter home.”
Jane Senda, Lethbridge